Alameda County returning $1.5 million in unused park fees

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has decided to return over $1.5 million in park fees. This decision was made because the fees, collected from homeowners and developers, went unspent for more than five years. The board voted unanimously on the refund last week. These park fees are charged for new homes to help manage the impact of more park users. The refunds will benefit property owners in various areas, with the largest amounts coming from Hayward and Castro Valley. Refunds to individual homeowners and developers will range from $2,400 to $407,000, with a median amount of about $9,000. Some residents are concerned about these refunds, particularly in unincorporated communities like Ashland and Castro Valley, where there are limited parks. According to a nonprofit, only 44% of Castro Valley residents can reach a park within a 10-minute walk. Many locals feel the lost funds could worsen their situation, as parks near their homes are scarce. Supervisor Nate Miley noted the mixed feelings about the situation. While it is rare for government to refund money, he acknowledged it is unfortunate that the park fees were not used for park improvements. To prevent future issues, the board plans to introduce a law giving community advisory councils more power in deciding how park fees are managed. During public comments, some residents called for accountability from the county. They argued that the county needs to take responsibility for the lost funds and allocate money to support local parks instead of just issuing refunds.